Boz is befuddled; he, like so many other kiwi aficionados, had no idea that this delicious fruiting vine grows well in a temperate climate. Yep, these fuzzy little puppies (Boz included) are not tropical in origin or range. Vashon Island, Washington is comfortably anchored in Zone 8a, where freezing temperatures occur regularly. The kiwi thrives here.
The above photo was taken in the winter, a good time to prune. Below you can see what happens if you don’t get around to it: the kiwi vine sets its sights on consuming a farmhouse.
My kiwi vines are so vigorous and meandering, that I fear a long nap under one would result in my entanglement. My two robust vines (you need a male and a female vine) reached the attic story of my two-story house and came crashing down in a winter storm last year. It needs to be pruned and trained on a trellis. (Item 623 on my to-do list.)
Boz would regret eating this kiwi now. Picked before the first frost, it is rock hard and sour. I store them in my cold pantry and let them ripen on the counter when needed. It’s February, and they are still ripening nicely at room temperature.
I harvested about 40 pounds of fuzzy kiwis this year. Had I trellised and properly pruned, the number would have been even higher.
An under-leaf view of immature kiwi in mid-July. The wilted leaves are a result of record-breaking heat that day.
In the fall, the leaves drop and I pick the kiwi. The photo above is from November before freezing temperatures prevailed.
The kiwi seeks new ground and things to grasp. If left unchecked and unpruned, my front porch would disappear beneath its boughs.
Tips and what you should know about growing kiwis:
- Kiwis are dioecious; there is a female plant and a male plant. You need both for fruit production
- The vines are extremely vigorous.
- Minimal pest or disease problems
- Ripen best off the vine, pick anytime before a freeze
- Select a sunny site with good drainage
- Build a trellis system for best results, a very strong trellis (Do as I say not as I do.)
- Fruit grows on current season’s wood.
- Consider the Hardy kiwi which has smaller clustered fruit, is more manageable and enjoys (as its name suggests) greater cold hardiness
Related links: Growing Kiwifruit, Hardy kiwis for cold climates, Nutritional Info, Hardy Kiwis (fuzzless)
What I was blogging about a year ago: When Good Plumbing Goes Bad
32 responses so far ↓
1 June // Feb 5, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Boz cracks me up! Tom is there anything you can’t grow? What talent you have.
BTW I thought of you yesterday as I was putting up more Shaker Lemon Pie filling – I’ve lemons, lemons and more lemons.
2 Sophie // Feb 9, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Thanks for sharing this kiwi adventure!
3 renae // Feb 9, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I had no idea. Kiwis. Wow.
How do you determine whether you have a male or a female plant, especially when the plants are larger? I tried plant blue berry bushes a while back and was told to get at least four so I would *likely* have at least one of each. Is that the best way? There isn’t some anatomical/ cellular difference that can be seen? I’m clearly showing my lack of gardening knowledge here, but have wondered this for a long, long time.
4 tom | tall clover farm // Feb 9, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Renae, I can only tell the difference when I buy them, at which time I label them. Or in this case, I had two vines already planted, one with fruit and one without, so it was easy to tell.
As for blueberries, the only reason to plant four, I would say is to plant bushes that extend the harvest season. Blueberries can be early, mid, and late season harvests; it just depends on the variety. Now’s the time to find them in nurseries and plant them. They are highly ornamental and with stunning fall foilage so consider them as an edible landscape plant.
5 M.A. // Feb 12, 2010 at 3:54 pm
What’s your favorite kiwi recipe?
6 Tom // Feb 12, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Hi M.A., you know I just like eating them fresh, though I may explore jam recipes as I have some really ripe ones begging to be used.
I eat them skin and all. Just cut the stem and bottom end off and then quarter on the longitude. Great texture and flavor all in one.
7 Sustainable Eats // Feb 16, 2010 at 2:47 am
I put two hardy kiwis in last spring which did not so much for me. I tasted some last fall at the farmer’s market but I prefer the fuzzy ones. I was under the impression from reading the raintree catalog that those wouldn’t do well in Seattle?
If you say they will I might just yank out the hardy and put in some fuzzy…
8 Tom // Feb 16, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Annette, that’s good to know as I’ve never eaten the hardy kiwi before. And yes ma’am, fuzzy kiwi are crazy happy in our neck of the woods. Mine pulled down a one story trellis if you need further proof.
9 al richey // Feb 21, 2010 at 10:19 pm
do you have any trees for shipping at this time, as I’m looking for two trees, male/female trees. Pls. advise.
10 Tom // Feb 22, 2010 at 1:00 am
Hi Al, I don’t sell any Kiwi vines, but I know who does. Here are two great online nurseries: http://www.onegreenworld.com//index.php?cPath=6_150 and http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=ACTI
11 Peter // Mar 4, 2010 at 11:02 am
if you are looking for more information on USDA plant hardiness zones, there is a detailed and interactive USDA plant hardiness zone map at http://www.plantmaps.com/usda_hardiness_zone_map.php which allow you to locate your USDA zone based on zipcode or city.
12 Eric Shalit // Jun 14, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Those kiwi vines are definitely powerful and require a strong structure. It’s great that your dog loves kiwis!
13 ERVIN WATTS // Aug 14, 2010 at 12:30 am
I HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH KIWI, BUT IN SOME AREAS YOU NEED TO PILE OF STRAW OR LEAVES AROUND THE TRUNK OF VINE TO PREVENT SPLITING FROM A COLD SPELL. MOST GOOD NURSERYS HAVE SEVERAL VARITIES. EDIBLE LANDSCAPES, AFTON VA. IS ONE THEY DO REQUIRE SUN.
14 Tom // Aug 14, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Good points all, Ervin. My kiwi are growing on the south side of my house, so they so up the heat in our cool climate. It’s a great choice for exposure, a bad choice for support structure. One day I’ll get that arbor made and redirect them from enveloping the house.
15 Robert // May 21, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I planted a boy & girl fuzzy kiwi either 2 or 3 years ago in Portland, OR. I have been training the girl along a strong trellis, and just yesterday I found flower buds on each plant for the first time! I am so excited! I got them from One Green World. With their beautiful red fuzz covered new vines, and broad leaves, I even recommend male varieties to friends who are looking for a decorative vine that does not produce fruit.
16 Fishtail Cottage // Jun 24, 2011 at 11:06 am
Thanks so much for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday’s! My kiddo’ s would love to have a kiwi plant in the garden (they love those) xoxo, tracie
17 Debi // Jun 24, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I recently moved into a new residence in Vancouver WA and discovered this strange looking plant! A neighbor lady told me it was a kiwi, but that it will never produce because its too cold. I know otherwise. however, I think it needs to be moved. It is mostly under a cedar tree. It looks like it has been pruned all the way to the stock previously, so when it started trailing, I was in awe..
My question to you is, can you advise on when/how to move it and what is the best propagation method? I’d like to get a couple plants going and grow them in several places to find the best spot. And perhaps its not producing because it has no mate??? how do you tell and where would I get a mate?? I want baby kiwis! I’ve checked other sites but still in question. thanks!
18 Tom // Jun 24, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Hi Debi,
Here’s what I would do.
1. Don’t move it. It rarely works with an older vine. You’re better off just to buy two new vines, a male and a female or keep the old and train it toward the sun.
2. I’ve never had luck propagating kiwi by cuttings.
3. Just train the old vine with one central lead to the sunniest part of your yard, say along a fence or build a trellis.
4. Once you reach the right spot trim side shoots about a foot out as these will become the fruiting cane.
4. Top dress around the old vine with compost and some rich new soil. I’d even add some time release fertilizer.
5. Determine what vine you have and plant the opposite sex within ten or twenty feet.
6. Here’s how to tell by the type of blossom, top photo male, and bottom flower female: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/kiwifruit/1/2/2
Good luck! Tom
19 KiwiFace // Sep 14, 2011 at 5:56 am
Do you think these vines would do well trailing down a large tiered area? I don’t really have a suitable area to trellis them, but a few long tiers. The two tiers are about 10 feet long and in total end up being about 8 feet high.
20 Tom // Sep 14, 2011 at 7:20 am
Hi KiwiFace (love your name), Kiwi would be happy to crawl down a tier or two. When mine broke the trellis and hit the ground it took off just where it left off and crept along the ground. It’s actually quite beautiful, a crazy crawler but beautiful nonetheless.
21 joan denn // Sep 27, 2011 at 5:20 pm
I used to grow them in Va. If fruit has gotten too soft for your taste they make good sherbet. I jsut bought a pair here in Hawaii. It may not get cold enough for them here to fruit. If so, I’ll at least have a good arbor. Anybody know how they do in zone 10?
22 Susan // Dec 11, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Really? That is what I said the whole time I was reading this post. That is amazing. I had no idea where or how Kiwi’s grew. This has been a true learning lesson for me…I love it. Thanks, Tom.
23 steve fogel // Jan 7, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Same story as you, just older and had to wait for retirement. Lost my 5 year old male kiwi when a careless helper skinned the main stalk. Now i need a new male. At 71 I don’t want to wait another 5 years for a new male to mature. Tried your 2 sources with no luck as to older stock. Any ideas? My kiwis are not very vigorous. Maybe it is the acid soil. The living female covers 20 ft of fence thinly. The male was 1/3 of that. I have 25 fruit trees with good results except the persimmon and the quince. My 30+ blueberries do very well. All my plants came from Raintree. Any hints on bud grafting? Enjoyed your site. Steve
24 Tom // Jan 7, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Hi Steve, thanks for the kind words and visit.
As for large size kiwi plants, you might try One Green World Nursery, Burnt Ridge Nursery, or contact KiwiBob, a gentleman who really knows his kiwi and may know where to buy or pickup a large kiwi transplant. His contact info is on this page: https://sites.google.com/site/kiwifruitsalad2/home
And you may also want to check out the Fruit and Orchard forum on GardenWeb: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/fruit/
Steve I’ve never bud grafted, so can’t help you there. You may want to circle your kiwis plants with a wide ring of composted manure, that really helped mine. Keep it off the trunks though. Vigorous growth one year, fruit the next. Good Luck!
Here’s his email
25 Katy // Feb 27, 2012 at 10:08 am
Hello,
I just got two fuzzy kiwi that I ordered, 1 male and 1 female. Just curious, is it safe to plant them now? It’s only February, and I’m worried that the cold will be too much for such young vines… Being in Mukilteo I’m not expecting a huge freeze, but you never know around here!
26 Tom @ Tall Clover Farm // Feb 27, 2012 at 10:12 am
Hi Katy,
It is safe to plant them now in Western Washington. They are hardy, and I believe it’s better to get the vines in the ground rather than to keep them in a shipping box or bag where they have a real tendency to either overheat or freeze as their roots are exposed, usually in a minimal amount of shredded paper or sawdust. Good luck!
27 tashi chamjee // Mar 10, 2012 at 4:20 am
Hi,
It was interesting to learn a lot about kiwis…I am from kathmandu and the climate here is not very hot though but warm enough..i have my kiwis for the last four years and have not borne any fruit so far how long do i have to wait for my kiwis to fruit…my kiwis have already starting budding but no flowers only leaves…please advise
thanx
28 Lael // Mar 27, 2012 at 5:19 am
Tom, your website is awesome! Thank you for sharing so much gardening info- I live on Harstine Island and can totally use all your information- I didn’t realize you could grow Kiwi’s here-
So I found Hardi Kiwi’s online- but I’m wondering if there is a certain seller you recommend? And when did you plant them?
Thanks!
29 Tom // Mar 27, 2012 at 6:20 am
Hi Lael,
Now is a great time to buy and plant kiwis, but there’s really not a bad time in our area. Most local nurseries carry kiwi vines. May I add, that fuzzy kiwi are crazy vigorous. If you want a more gentle grower with smaller fruit but still delicious, try fuzzless hardy kiwi vines. Don’t forget to buy two plants, a male and a female. Online I like One Green World and Burnt Ridge Nursery. Good Luck!
30 Tom // Mar 27, 2012 at 6:26 am
Hi Tashi, how wonderful to hear from a plant lover from such an exotic locale. Kiwi take a while to produce. I believe if you prune a couple central leaders, and then allow fruiting shoots to grow you get fruit, but again sometimes it takes the plant a while to produce. Here’s a great tutorial from a local nursery: http://www.burntridgenursery.com/plantArticles/kiwigrowingguide.pdf
31 Katy // Apr 12, 2012 at 7:59 am
Hi Tom,
Thanks for keeping us all “in the know”, your site has been a great resource. I wrote back in February and took your advice, planting both kiwi right after they arrived. I’m a bit concerned about the male plant. While the female arrived with buds which have since opened to reveal some nice looking leaves, the male plant had no buds on arrival — and still doesn’t. What do you think? Did I get a dud, or are the male plants simply slower to get moving in the spring? Thanks again!
32 Tom // Apr 12, 2012 at 10:16 am
Hi Katy, some bare-root vines take a little longer to break dormancy, especially the first year after transplant. I’d contact the seller and ask them how long you should wait, I would say another week or so if the other plant is already budding. If the vine has a little side twig or branch, try snipping it off to see if the flesh is green. If it’s dry and brittle, your plant may have been DOA, dead on arrival. Reputable nurseries usually replace dead plants, especially if you planted it immediately upon receipt. Good Luck, let me know happens.
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